Chapter 1—Medication Administration and Drug Calculations

Question 1

bioavailability

Answer 1

the amount of a drug that enters central circulation and is able to cause an effect

Question 2

bolus

Answer 2

administration of medication in single does (as opposed to an infusion)

Question 3

concentration

Answer 3

for calculation purposes, this is the total amount of medication available as packaged, e.g., total amount of drug (mcg, mg, g) in the syringe, ampule, etc.

Question 4

dose

Answer 4

the drug amount intended for administration

Question 5

enteral

Answer 5

delivery of medication through the GI tract (oral, sublingual, rectal)

Question 6

half-life

Answer 6

period of time required for concentration of drug in the body to be reduced by one-half

Question 7

LD50

Answer 7

lethal dose (LD50) is the amount of an ingested substance (in mg/kg) that kills 50% of a test sample

Question 8

parentetal

Answer 8

delivery of medication outside of the GI tract, e.g., IV, IO, IM, SQ, intranasal

Question 9

pharmacokinetics

Answer 9

movement of drug through the body, includes absorption, bioavailability, distribution, metabolism, and excretion

Question 10

pharmacodynamics

Answer 10

the mechanism of action of a medication

Question 11

therapeutic index

Answer 11

the range between the minimum effective dose of a medication and the maximum safe does; the narrower the therapeutic index, the more risk associated with the medication

Question 12

volume

Answer 12

for calculation purposes, this is the total amount of fluid available as packaged, e.g., total amount of fluid (mL) in the syringe, ampule, etc.

Question 13

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)

Answer 13

prevents the manufacture, sale, or transportation of misbranded or poisonous medications

Question 14

Harrison Narcotic Act (1914)

Answer 14

regulates production, importation, and distribution of opiates

Question 15

Controlled Substances Act (1970)

Answer 15

categorizes controlled substances based on their potential for abuse and potential for medical benefits

Question 16

Schedule I

Answer 16

high potential for abuse; no accepted medical use (e.g., heroin, LSD, ecstasy, peyote)

Question 17

Schedule II

Answer 17

narcotics and stimulants with high potential for abuse and severe dependence (e.g., methadone, morphine, codeine, amphetamine, methamphetamine)

Question 18

Schedule III

Answer 18

less potential for abuse, can still cause low physical or high psychological dependence (e.g., Vicodin, acetaminophen with codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids)

Question 19

Schedule IV

Answer 19

low potential for abuse (e.g., Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Versed, Ambien)

Question 20

Schedule V

Answer 20

contains limited quantities of narcotics, such as cough syrups with codeine

Question 21

the six rights of drug administration

Answer 21

1. patient
2. drug
3. time
4. route
5. amount
6. documentation

Question 22

enteral (through the GI tract)

Answer 22

1. oral
2. rectal

Question 23

parenteral (outside of the GI tract)

Answer 23

1. subcutaneous
2. intramuscular
3. intravenous
4. intraosseous
5. sublingual
6. nasal
7. inhaled

Question 24

liter (measure of volume)

Answer 24

1,000 milliliters (mL) = 1 liter
1 mL = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)

Question 25

gram (measure of weight)

Answer 25

1,000 micrograms (mcg) = 1 milligram (mg)
1,000 mg = 1 gram (gram)
1,000 g = 1 kilogram (kg)
1 kg = 2.205 pounds (lbs)